Multiplayer - ranked matches?

[machine]

I've seen the multiplayer aspect of this game described as 'hot-seat', which I guess means taking turns at a single PC.  Will there be an online multiplayer component too?  Ranked matchmaking would give this game immense replay value and make competitive multiplayer rewarding.

[CraigStern]

There will be online multiplayer via play-by-email. Other than that, the current focus is on single player.

(The community has been pretty loud about its preference for single player--and being only one guy, I unfortunately have to set some limits on the scope of the project to ensure that Telepath Tactics releases in a reasonable time frame.)

[JeenLeen]

How does play-by-email work?  This seems like an embarrassingly basic question, but I hadn't heard of that process before.  I imagine it's actually some synching between an e-mails sytem and the game directly.  Is that close to correct?

[CraigStern]

Basically, the game will generate a file at the end of your turn, which you'll email to the next player. They'll take their turn, then send their turn file to the next player; and so on.

[bum_199]

does this mean there will be a limit of 2 human players for email? maybe im not following right.

[ArtDrake]

Nothing inherent to the system he describes would suggest the limit should necessarily exist; however, it might take some shenanigans to adapt an existing system from 2-player to n-player, and he's a bit crunched for time and energy, so who knows?